C38 Retrospective P^iew of British Hush an dry for 1803, 



sarilj li:ive been sucked and consumed by these merciless in- 

 truders. Grass seeds have in many districts completely failed 

 to the great loss of the occupier, both on account of the expence 

 laid out in purchasing them, and the consequent derangement of 

 his subsequent operations. 



Thirlagc Bill, 



In putting the act of Parliament for commuting thirlage in- 

 to execution, we are informed that a curious and unprecedent- 

 ed decision was lately given in a northern county, which, ac- 

 cording to the nature of our information, deserves to be no- 

 ticed, in order that similar mistakes may not be committed in 

 other counties, in the execution of this useful and salutary 

 measure. We understand, that the jury first divided on th<? 

 question, Whether the milJ -owner should be indemnified for 

 services performed by the party thirled, such as clearing the 

 dam, bringing home millstones, &.c. ? and that tlie affirmative 

 was carried only by a majority, of one vote. Here the majo- 

 rity were certainly right ,- though, on what ground the mino- 

 rity opposed such indemnification, we are at a loss to dis- . 

 cover. But, in the general verdict, if we are correctly in- 

 formed, it would appear that the majority were completely 

 in an error, when they gave ihc^ fall value of all multurcb, 

 services, and dues wliatsoever, without making the least de- 

 duction," in consideration of the mill having been relieved of 

 the actual labour of manufacturing the grain, for which these 

 multures and dues were claimed ; as, by doing so, they gave 

 more than a just equivalent for the removal of the thirlage. 

 This is the substance of the case, as communicated to us ; and 

 if the circumstances be correctly stated, furnishes a proof that 

 even juries may go wrong. We sliall, however, suspend our 

 opinion, before the subject is investigated by our correspon- 

 dent in thedistrict alluded to, who is instructed to make par- 

 ticular enquiries. 



Upon the wlio.le, the state of husbandry in Britain, at the 

 conclusion of the ^^ear 1803, caniiot, in its great and leading 

 features, be considered as materially altered by any circum- 

 stance oi: event which has occurred in the course of it. The 

 ti-ade in grain (the greatest in Britain) has not varied consi- 

 derably ; but, in that of live stock, which may perhaps be 

 ranked as second to grain, a great depression has, within a 

 few months, taken place. We have considered this depres- 

 sion as of a temporary nature, and briefly condescended upon 

 the leading causes which produced it. Other branches oE,, 

 rural economies have also been cursorily noticed, and that 



in 



